The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has upgraded the firefighting facility at Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri, Anambra State, from Category Six to Category Seven, allowing it to accommodate bigger aeroplanes.

The Managing Director of the airport, Mr Martins Nwafor, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria at Umueri, near Onitsha, on Sunday, saying the upgrade followed improvements in firefighting equipment and personnel training.

He explained that the upgrade enabled the airport to meet the NCAA’s minimum safety requirements for Category Seven Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services, adding, “The NCAA has audited and upgraded our Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Service from CAT-6 to CAT-7. What this means is that we can accommodate bigger aeroplanes.”

Nwafor said the upgrade would enable the airport to handle aircraft requiring a higher level of firefighting and emergency response capability, thereby improving safety and operational capacity at the facility.

He also disclosed that the airport had just conducted a two-week recency training for most staff on wildlife management, which he described as a very serious safety issue in the industry, as part of efforts to strengthen safety standards.

Nwafor also confirmed the introduction of Embraer 190 and CRJ 900 aircraft by United Nigeria Airlines on its Abuja-Anambra route, effective November 5, a development made possible by the improved safety rating.

He, however, said the airport remained underserved despite the growing demand for air travel, noting that it was operating below its installed capacity because of the limited number of flights and operators serving the airport.